Automatic uncoupler for cars.



G. J. JANOVISK.

AUTOMATIC UNCOUPLER F0 8.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-4.

1,14,709, Patented June 29,

2 SH -SHEE G. J. .IANOVISK, AUTOMATIC UNCOUPLER FOR CARS.

APPLICATION FILED IAN.4, I9I2.

Patented June 29, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

WITNESSES A; A Home sn pe.

GEORGE J. JANOVISK, OF CHROME, NEW JERSEY.

AUTOMATIC UNCOUPLER FOR CARS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 29, 1915.

Application filed January 4, 1912. Serial No. 669,353.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Gnonon J. JANOVISK,

a citizen of the United States, and residing at Chrome, in the county of Middlesex and State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Unconplers for Cars, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a coupler for railway cars.

One object of the invention is to provide a highly elfective device of this kind that will uncouple upon a car becoming derailed to thereby prevent one derailed car causing a car upon the track rails to follow; the uncoupling action being efi'ected specifically through downward movement of one of the cars.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction having a pivoted knuckle that will be permitted to swing to permit disengagement of a complementary knuckle upon derailment of one of the cars.

A further object is to provide in such a coupling, a slidable member normally maintaining the knuckle against swinging movement, which will be permitted to slide out of engagement with the said knuckle upon derailment of one of the cars.

Other objects of the invention will be gathered ifrom the description following taken in connection with the accompanylng drawings.

The device illustrated in said drawings is the preferred embodiment and employs parts that are stocky and simple in construction; hence providing a device that will prove durable in use and can be manufactured at minimum cost. I I

In said drawings :-Figure 1 is a horizontal sectional view showing the parts comprising my invention in section, and in operative relation with a draw-bar and its head; Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the parts of Fig. 1; Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the guide block employed; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the slidable lock member employed; Fig. 6 is an elevation of the pivot member for the guide member employed, and Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one form of knuckle that may be employed.

Like reference characters designate like or similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings. Referring specifically to the drawings, a draw-bar is shown which has a head 1 provided with a hollow portion 2 in which several of the working parts are mounted. Said hollow portion is open at one end of the head, as best seen in Figs. 1 and 3, and at said end is provided with an abutment or stop wall 3 and with extensions or lugs 1. A knuckle member 6 of any desired form, for instance of the form best shown in Fig. 7 is pivotally supported by means of a suitable pivot fastened to the extensions 4.

A slight distance in the rear of abutment or stop wall 3, a pivot member or rod 7 passes vertically through the hollow portion 2. Said rod having a head 8, an enlarged portion 9, a stop head 10, projections or ribs 11, a constricted portion 12 and a screw threaded shank 13, which shank is adapted to receive a nut. The main rod portion of member 7 is round, as is also the enlarged portion 9 which permits the same to swing or have pivotal bearing in the draw-head 1.

Within the hollow portion 2 is mounted a guide block or member 14 which has an opening 17 by means of which it engages the pivot member 7 and the ribs 11 thereof. By reason of the engagement of the ribs within said opening, the block is fastened to the pivot member so as to swing therewith. Said head 10 prevents undue vertical movement of the guide member. As shown, one end of said guide member is bifurcated to provide a slot 15, the arms provided by said bifurcation having vertically extending grooves designated 16.

A look member or block is employed and located in the hollow portion 2. Said block comprises sections 18 and 19, the latter of which extends vertically a considerable distance above the section 18. Vertically extending ribs 20 are provided on opposite sides of the section 19. As best seen in Fig. 1, section 19 is slidably mounted in the slot 15, and grooves 16 and ribs 20 engage so as to prevent lateral movement of the guide member and lock member relatively. When the said parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1, the inner end of the knuckle member 6 bears against the outer end of section 18 which thereby forms an abutment for the knuckle and prevents swinging movement thereof normally. Each section 18 and 19 is provided with a longitudinal groove 21 which is preferably T-shape, as shown. Into the hollow portion 2 extends a pin 22 to which is fastened a coil spring 23 which is also fastened to a pin 9A, projecting fromguide block or member 14. This spring 23 exerts pressure against the said block to maintain the same against the stop wall 3. Said lock member comprising the sections 18 and 19, is adapted for vertical movement in order to permit swinging movement of the knuckle 6, as will be hereinafter referredto. Suitable means is provided whereby said lock member may be moved vertically or downwardly; it being obvious that a suitable recess, as shown, is provided to permit such movement. Said means may consist. of a frame comprising the rods 25, cross barv 26 and heads 27 having offsets so thatthe heads will be T-shaped, which heads and offsets are mounted in the T-shaped groove 21. Said rods 25 extend slidably through the drawhead and beyond the same are suitably connected to and support a plate 30, which projects beyond the open end of the, draw-head and interior of the inner face of one arm of the knuckle, asbest seen in Fig. 1. Surrounding the rods 25 and bearing against the cross bar 26 and draw-head, are coil or. compression springs 28 which serve to maintain the lock member elevatedand normally in position, preventing swingingmovement of knuckle 6.

In use, the mechanism shown and described, is carried by one car and the knuckle 6 is adapted to be engaged by the knuckle, of a draw-bar carried by a coupled car. The knuckle of said coupled car may be shaped similarly to the knuckle 6 and hooks around the knuckle 6 and is capable of vertical or downward movement upon derailment of said coupled car. Should derailment of said coupled car occur, its knuckle would.

move downwardlyin the space intermediate the open end of the draw head and adjacent face of the knuckle and engage the plate 30, accordingly depressing the same or moving it downwardly. Such downward movement of plate 30 causes the frame comprisingthe rods 25, cross bar 26 and heads 27 to move or slide downwardly and accordingly move with it the lock member. Said lock member is moved by said parts to an extent suflicient to bring the upper face of section 18 below the knuckle 6, whereby the knuckle 6 will be free to swing to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1, thereby releasingv the. knuckle of the derailed car. v It will be realized that section 19 is sufficiently distanced from the inner arm of the knuckle so as not to interfere with the same in its movement; the elongation of said section 19 enabling longer ribs 20 to be employed and hence ribs to be provided that will at all times have proper, engagement in the grooves 16.

It will be realized that the action of the parts. is automatic upon derailment of a car, and that the car or cars remaining upon the track rails after derailment, will not be affected by the derailedcar.

Changes in the details of construction falling within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, are reserved.

Having thus described my said invention,

what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a car coupling device, a coupling. member, means to maintain saidcoupling member coupled; with another; coupling. member, means to .release. the coupled coupling member operable to actuate said means upon downward movement of one of the movable coupling member coupled with an other coupling member, and means operable to uncouple the movable coupling. member upon; movement of the. second coupling member in one direction, whereby said first coupling member may 'move to therebydisengage. the, second couplingmemben.

4C. In a device, ofthe class described, a.

coupling head, a; coupling member. pivoted to the head, means-to normally maintain the coupling member locked, and actuating means associatedqwith saidmeans extending into a plane'passing intermediate. the cou-b pling portion of said member and the wall of the head opposite the saidicoupling por tion, whereby said: actuatingmeans is positioned for engagement by a second. coupling member for, actuation to effect the release-of the firstcoupling member; 7

5. In a deviceof the; class described, a

head, a coupling member pivoted to. the head, means tonormally' maintain the coupling v member locked operable torelease a coupledv coupling member through,- downward movement,v said means: comprising a lock devicedirectly engageable with the coupling member andlanoperating member extending laterally of the lock device andv beyond one end of the said headadaptedto be engaged for operation beyond the head' by the coupled coupling-member upon moving downwardly.

6. In a device of the class described, a

coupling head, a knuckle member pivoted thereto, guide means on said head, a lock member for. said knuckle member slidable in said guide means, and means to prevent turning movement of said lock member relatively to said guide means.

7. In a device of the class described, a pivoted knuckle member, a slidable lock member therefor, a guide member in which said lock member is mounted for sliding movement independently thereof, one of said latter two members provided with a slot and the other of said latter two members having a portion projecting into said slot to prevent disengagement of said lock and guide members and prevent turning movement of said 00k member relatively to the guide mem- 8. In a device of the class described, a pivoted knuckle member, a slidable lock member therefor, a guide member for said lock member, one of said latter two members provided with a slot and the other of said latter two members having a portion projecting into said slot, whereby the lock member is mounted against turning movement relatively to the guide member, said latter two members at said slot having engaging rib and groove means to prevent relative movement of said lock and guide members longitudinally.

9. In a device of the class described, a coupling member, a pivoted knuckle member, a pivot member, a guide member on said pivot member, a lock member for said knuckle movably mounted on said guide member, and means to position said guide member.

10. In a device of the class described, a

coupling member, a pivoted knuckle member, a pivot member, a lock member for said knuckle member, a guide member movably mounting said lock member carried by said pivot member, abutment means on said coupling member for said guide member, and spring means to maintain said guide memher in engagement with said abutment means.

11. In a device of the class described, a pivoted knuckle member, a lock member therefor, means operable to depress said lock member comprising a frame engaging said member having rod means, return spring means surrounding said rod means, and a plate carried by said rod means directly engageable to depress said lock member to thereby free the knuckle member and permit movement thereof.

12. In a device of the class described, a coupling member, a pivoted knuckle member, a slidable lock member therefor, a pivot member on said coupling member, a guide member for said lock member carried by said pivot member, an abutment wall, spring means to maintain said guide member in engagement with said wall, means operable to slide said lock member comprising a frame engaging said lock member having a plurality of rods, return springs surrounding said rods, and a plate carried by said rods.

GEORGE J. JANOVISK.

Witnesses:

DAYTON HOPPER, JOHN SLATTERY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

